It is named after the East African state of Tanzania,
the only place in the world where it has been found. Africa? Does anyone
think of gemstones when they hear that name? Well they should, because
Africa is a continent which provides the world with a multitude of truly
magnificent gemstones, like tanzanite for example. On its discovery in
1967, it was enthusiastically celebrated by the specialists as the
'gemstone of the 20th century'. They held their breath in excitement as
they caught sight of the first deep-blue crystals which had been found in
the Merelani Hills near Arusha in the north of Tanzania.

With
an aurora of stunning purple-blues, ultramarines, greens and pinks,
nothing on Earth can compare to the vibrant and sensual personality of
Tanzanite. Tanzanite, the striking blue-purple member of the Zoisite
family, has taken the world by storm in the last twenty years. Sales of
Tanzanite have rocketed in recent years outstripping sales of all other
precious gems, with the exception of Sapphire

Tanzanite soon found its way
to America, arriving at the New York based jewellers Tiffany & Co.
Louis Comfort Tiffany was immediately enraptured by their beauty but
disturbed by its gemological name of “Blue Zoisite”. As with
anything in fashion, it’s all in the name, and so this rare and exotic
African gemstone was christened Tanzanite.